In a statement addressed to the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva, Amb. Gian Lorenzo Cornado, declared that “Italy will do everything possible, with the support of the Congolese authorities, to clarify the circumstances that, exactly one month ago, led to the tragic death” of Ambassador Luca Attanasio and Carabiniere Vittorio Iacovacci. Ambassador Cornado then reiterated that “Italy strongly condemns the ignoble attack following which two public servants who were a precious resource for our country and the driver of the World Food Program, Mustapha Milambo, lost their lives”.
The intervention of Italy was held as part of the Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, within the framework of the 46th session of the Human Rights Council. Referring in particular to the eastern provinces of the DRC, hit by humanitarian crises and by military and inter-ethnic clashes, Amb. Cornado stressed that Italy closely follows the evolution of the situation and works with the United Nations and the European Union, in order to promote inclusive solutions for the return to stability, for the strengthening of democratic governance and for the respect for human rights.
Through the Italian Development Cooperation, our Permanent Representative recalled, Italy has financed several projects in the region over the years, mainly in the areas of health, hygiene and child protection. “The Italian Presidency of the G20 and the DRC Presidency of the African Union will offer the opportunity to raise the attention to Africa, in particular to the Great Lakes region”, continued Amb. Cornado, concluding that “we are ready to welcome President Tshisekedi, supporting his commitment for the pacification of the eastern provinces, to the G20 summit in Rome in October”.
read the full statement here
